Our history
A happy accident
Beaumont’s The Original is one of the oldest and best known restaurants in the region. Beaumont’s was established in 1908, and claims the distinction of having created its own “French Dipped Sandwich.” One day in 1918, while a sandwich was being made, the sliced french roll was inadvertently dropped into the roasting pan filled with juice still hot from the oven. The patron, a policeman, said he would take the sandwich anyway and returned the next day with some friends asking for more dipped sandwiches. And so was born our “French Dipped Sandwich,” so called either because of the French roll the sandwich is made on or because the officer’s name was French. The answer is lost to history.
Beaumont’s changed hands in 1927 and has been owned by the same family ever since. The restaurant operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until World War II, and the business grew steadily through the depression of 1929 and World War II.
Beaumont’s was forced to move to make way for a new freeway, and in 1951 relocated to the present location, which was a machine shop with a hotel on the second floor. Change does not come rapidly at Beaumont’s, so most of what we are today is very much what we were and did years ago. We like to say that only the prices have changed.
The house specialty
Our “French Dipped Sandwich” consists of either roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham served on a lightly textured, freshly baked French roll which has been dipped in the natural gravy of the roasts. To accompany your sandwich we offer a tart, tangy cole slaw, homemade potato and macaroni salads, hard boiled eggs pickled in beet juice and spices, large Kosher style, sour dill or sweet pickles, black olives and hot yellow chili peppers. Beaumont’s still prepares and serves close to 300 pounds of pigs feet every week.
We prepare about 40 gallons of our own hot mustard twice weekly. It is best used sparingly as it is a truly very hot French mustard. However, used with discretion, it complements the sandwich to perfection. It may be purchased by the squeeze bottle at the front candy counter.
Delicious beef stew is prepared daily made from choice beef and fresh vegetables; two soup selections are offered each day, as well as our chili and beans. Lemonade, iced tea and a variety of soft drinks are served. Domestic and imported beers, our house wines and several premium wines by the glass are offered.
To top off your meal at Beaumont’s, try one of our desserts. A large variety of cream and fruit pies are offered daily. In addition, we have ice cream, New York style cheese cake, our seasonal baked apples, custard, tapioca, and fresh fruit.
Hearty breakfasts are served from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. daily. Some of our breakfast items include eggs (any style), bacon, sausage, ham, corned beef hash and our own fried potatoes. Ask for our fresh, homemade salsa for the egg dishes. In addition, omelets, cinnamon French toast, pancakes, and a variety of fruits and juices are offered. Coffee is included with most breakfasts. Featured are our biscuits, cinnamon streusel coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, donuts and muffins, all baked in-house.
The price of a cup of coffee remained a nickel until 1977, when it was increased 100%, to a dime. It was more recently increased to 45 cents a cup.
The counter
The way the service works is unique. There is a long display counter with 10 servers (we call them “Carvers”), many of which have been working at Beaumont’s well over 20 years. Each Carver has everything she needs to prepare your meal. When you reach your Carver, she can take care of your whole meal; make your sandwich or fix your hot dish, serve salads or soup, give you coffee or a glass of wine, add it all up and process your payment. The plates are paper, the service is fast. There are ceiling fans, neon soft drink and beer signs, sawdust on the floor, a few booths and long wooden tables with stools. Seating is family style. It is not unusual to sit with people from all walks of life at the same table. There are press clippings and civic citations on the walls, and you can weigh yourself on an antique penny scale. You can make yourself at home.